Shoe



Aug. 12, 1941. A. c. SEWALL SHOE Filed Nov. 17," 19:58

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Aug. 12, 1941. A. c. SEWALL SHOE- Filed Nov. 17, l938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 43 67Inven for:

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Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE Arthur C. Sewall, Auburn, Maine Application November 17, 1938, Serial No. 240,982

44 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants co-pending application Serial Number 130, 499, filed March 12, 1937.

The invention relates to shoes, and to insoles for use in the same, the insoles disclosed constituting improvements in those forming thesubject matter of applicants Patent No. 1,927,421, issued September 19, 1933.

The invention will be best understood from the following description, when read in the light of the accompanying drawings, of a shoe and method of making it and of several forms of insoles for use in the shoe and of materials for and methods of making those insoles.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of the upper side of an insole constructed according tothe invention; 1

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the insole according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan of the upper side of a modified form of insole constructed'according to the invention; j

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the insole according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan of a fragment of a composite stripshowing one wayin which a plurality of the insoles according to Figs. 1 and 2 may be cut therefrom;

Fig. 6 is a plan of a fragment of a composite strip from which a plurality of, the insoles according to Figs. 3 and 4 may be cut;

Fig. '7 is a more or less diagrammatic transverse section through the toe portion of the shoe constructed according to the invention employing insolesaccording to Figs. 1 and 3 with the sole of the shoe and other parts omitted;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a modified form of the insole according to Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 9 is an orthogonal perspective of a fragment of the strip according to Fig. 5 showing another way in which a plurality of the insoles according to Figs. 1 and 2 may be cut therefrom;

Fig. 10 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing a still furtherway in which a plurality of the insoles according to Figs. 1 and 2 may be cut from the strip according to Fig. 5;

Fig. 11 is a more or less diagrammatic View showing another way of cutting a plurality of the insoles according to Figs. 3 and 4 from the strip according to Fig. 6; v

Fig. 12 is a more or less diagrammatic View showing, in orthogonal. perspective, a fragment of a modified form of strip from which may be cut a plurality of the insoles according to Figs. 3

and the parting line between by the dotted line 15.

and 4, and showing how such insoles may be cut 1 from the strip;

Fig. 1.3 is a plan of the upper side of a further modified form of the insole according to Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the insole according to Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan of the upper side of a modified form of the insole according to Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 16 is a longitudinal section of the insole according to Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing, in orthogonal perspective, a fragment of one form of strip from which may be cut a I plurality of the insoles according to Figs. 13 and 14, and showing how such insoles may be cut from the strip;

Fig. 18 is an orthogonal perspective of one form of strip from which may be cut a plurality of theinsoles according to Figs. 15 and 16; and.

Fig. 19 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing-a modified form of the strip according toFig. 18 and one way of employing the strip for cutting therefrom the insoles according to Figs. 15 and 16. r

In the insole illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings 'the shank portion 1 and the ball portion 3 preferably are made of flexible material such as flannel, or bibulous paper consisting of loosely felted alpha cellulose fibers, in all cases preferably impregnated with rubber applied in the form of a hydrocarbon solution, latex, or

dispersion.

As illustrated (Figs. 1 and 2), the shank and ball portions are formed of two superimposed sheets 5 and l of the above mentioned flexible material secured together in laminated relathe upper side of the insole at the toe portion is formed of a sheet '9 of relatively stiff material,

such as hard stiff fiberboard, which stiifens said toe portion, the sheets 1 and 9 being secured together. The upper sheet 5 extends to the extreme rearward end of the heel portion, the lower side of the insole at said portion being formed of a sheet II secured to the upper sheet, the sheet H being preferably of the same material as the sheet 9. The parting line'between the sheets 5 and. 9 is indicatedin Fig. 1 by' the full line l3,

In the shoe-factory when fabricating shoes in which the uppers are cemented to the insole, the cement, commonly latex and in som instances the sheets 7 and ll rubber solution, is applied wet to the insole or marginal edges of the uppers, and it i desirable for economic reasons immediately to apply these parts to each other while the cement is wet, that is to say, before it has dried suificiently to become tacky. It has been found with insoles constructed as shown in applicants prior patent having a toe piece of fiberboard that if it is attempted to cement the uppers to the insole at the toe portion in this manner poor adherence is secured for the reason that leather and fabric cannot be readily cemented to fiberboard without resorting to the troublesome and time consuming expedient of permitting the cement to dry to the tacky state. This is particularly true where the marginal edges of the uppers contact with the insole throughout a relatively narrow area incident to the usual way of constructing a cemented shoe. With the improved insole the uppers I! (Fig. 7) may have their marginal portions 19 at the toe, ball and shank portions in contact with the rubber impregnated sheet I, and

it has been found that good adherence may be the insole may be much speeded up because the parts may be applied to each other immediately upon applying the cement, with entire avoidance of storing, handling and watching the parts to which the cement is applied to determine when the cement acquires th requisite tackiness.

In the modification of the invention shown by l Figs. 3 and4 only the ball portion 3 of the insole is flexible. As shown, a sheet 2i of the flexible material, preferably that above described, extends at the upper side of the insole from its extreme rearward end to the toe portion, the remainder of the upper side of the insole being formed of a sheet 9 of hard stifi fiberboard. The

lower side of the insole is formed of a'sheet 23 of hard stiff fiberboard which extends from the rearward end of the insole to the ball portion, the remainder of the lower side of the insole being formed of a sheet 25 of the above described flexible material, the superimposed sheets, as in the prior modification, being secured together in laminated relation. The full line 21 in Fig 3 indicates the parting line between the sheets 2! and 9, and the dotted line 29 the parting line between the sheets 23 and 25.

In both the above described modifications of the inventionthe flexible and fiberboard sheets are preferably all of th same thickness so as to present an insole of uniform thickness throughout its length. Preferably the superimposed sheets'are secured together by use of rubber cement spread over one or both of their entire contacting surfaces and allowed to become tacky before applying the sheets to each other.

Instead of having the relatively stiff sheets 9 and H of the insole according to Figs. 1 and 2 abut the relatively flexible sheets and I respectively, the adjacent edges of the sheets may be skived and cemented together in overlapping relation as indicated at 26 in Fig. 8. The sheets vof relativelyptiif and relatively flexible mate- .modiflcations hereinafter described whererelatively stiff and relatively flexible sheets have adjacent edges illustrated in the drawings as abutting each other. When the relatively stiff and relatively flexible sheets are united by overlapping skived joints the flexibility of the former gradually merges into the stiffness of the other so that the insole is prevented from bending quite as sharply at the joints between these sheets as it does when the joints abut each other as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. However, the abutting joints are simpler and permit the insoles to be constructed with a minimum of skiving, and in any ordinary case give satisfactory results.

The insoles according to Fig. 1 may be made according to the invention by forming an elongated composite strip, the preferred form of which is shown in Fig. 5, of bands of the above described relatively flexible and relatively stiff material cemented together to present a transverse cross-section like that illustrated in Fig. 2 but with the fiberboard or other bands of stiff material 9 and II each of such width that the toe and heel portions of the insole can be cut from either band. This strip may be presented to a cutting or stamping instrumentality, preferably one having cutters or dies, which will cut the insoles along the contours indicated by the dotted lines 3| in Fig. 5, or along other contours as hereinafter explained.

The insoles illustrated by Figs. 3 and 4 may be similarly cut from an elongated composite strip one form of which is shown in Fig. 6, the strip being made of cemented together bands of the relatively flexible and relatively stiff material, to

give the strip a cross-section like that shown'in Fig. 4 except that the strip is conveniently slightly wider than the length of the insole but with the parting lines 2'! and 29 spaced the same distance apart as are these lines in Fig. 3. The insoles may be cut from this strip along the dotted lines 33 but without having alternate insoles each turned end for end with relation to the other.

In the above described strips, and those hereinafter described, the abutting joints between the adjacent edges of the relatively stiff and relatively flexible portions may be overlapping skived joints, as explained in connection with Fig. 8,

and, if desired, in either case the flexible materials, or stiff materials, or both may be transversely or otherwise slashed, grooved, or the like to increase the flexibility of the flexible material or to control the degree of stiffness of the stiff material. In making a strip having the skived joints, that according to Fig. '8 for example, the adjacent stifi and flexible bands may be first cemented to each other by means of the overlapping skived joints to form two sheets which tively stiff zones, but, whether the strips are constructed in that way or have plain abutting joints, and whether the materials are slashed or grooved, in the sense of the appended claims the relatively flexible zone in each instance is of width the lengthof and coextensive with the relatively flexible portion of the insole and the adjacent surfaces of the relatively stiff and flexible portions and the individual surfaces of those portions are substantially continuous.

Conveniently, and unless otherwise indicated, referring to the insoles of the several modifications above and hereinafter described as right and left insoles in'the sense that in each the relatively stiff material at the toe is at-the upper side thereof when in the shoe, which is the position it occupies in the above described cemented shoe, it will be observed in connection with Fig. that all the insoles out along the contours 3! are left shoe insoles, and that if the sheet were turned around through 180 in the plane of the drawing all the insoles cut would be right insoles. By having the toe portions of the contours of alternate insoles pointing in the opposite direction the shank portions of the contours of alternate insoles may lie between the ball portions of the contours of adjacent insoles, and by thus cutting the-insoles in lateral overlapping relation a saving of material may be effected, it being noted that, as shown, the spaces between the ball portions of alternate insoles are of less width than the heel portions of the insoles.

Cutting theinsoles in the way shown in Fig. 5 makes it necessary for practical reasons to use a diewhich will out at least two adjacent insoles at once, for if a die for cutting a single insole at a time were employed it would be necessary to turn the sheet around through 180 after each insole was cut to position the sheet for cutting the next insole. For numerous reasons it is impractical to use a die for a Single insole in this way.

V A disadvantage of employing the above described method of cutting the insoles from the strip shownby Fig. 5 is the necessity of providing the special double dies, with which the shoe manufacturer is not ordinarily equipped, and that the right insoles must be cut from different strips than'the left insoles, which strips with re-v spect to eachother may exhibit variations in respect' to physical properties, or, on account of manufacturing inaccuracies, slight variations in dimensions, with the result that the shoes with the right insoles would not be exactly the same in respect to flexibility and stiffness as the shoes with the left insoles. V

' For the above reasons the method preferably employed is one which uses a die for a single insole and cuts both right and left insoles from the same strip by use of that die. This may be done by cutting the insoles from the strip according to Fig. 5 along the contours 35 of Fig. 9. The strip according to Fig. '5 may be laid flat upon and secured to the stationary horizontal table of a press having a vertically reciprocating head above the table, the head presenting a flat horizontal die-engaging surface coextensive with and parallel to the strip. In operation the die block for cutting the insole, which block is not attached to the head but may he slid about the strip, may be placed upon the strip, whereupon the operator causes the head to descend and operate upon the die to cut the insole from the strip. After the lowermost insole shown in Fig. 9 is cut in this way, the die block may be turned by the operator through 180 and slid over the strip to position it to cut the insole immediately above the lower insole shown by Fig. 9, and after the insole is cut with the die block in this new position the operation may be repeated until all the insoles are out. It will be observed that all the insoles which in Fig, 9 have their toe portions pointing toward the left will be left insoles, and all those having their toe portions pointing towardthe right will be right insoles. In this way all the right and left insoles will be cut from the same strip, and will have like properties; and at the same time the inexpensive -die a for asing'le insole, with which die the shoe manu facturer is ordinarily equipped for cutting other kinds of insoles, may bexemployed.

A further advantage of the insole constructed according to Figs. 1 and '2 and Figs. 3 and 4. isthat the stiff material is relatively thin, and that permits a plurality of strips to be cut at the same time. For example, by placing two strips back to back, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 10, the die may operate upon two strips at the same time, in which case all the insoles having their toe portions pointing to the left in the upper strip of Fig. 10 will be left insoles, and all those having their toe portions pointing to the right in the upper strip will be right insoles, while all the insoles cut from the lower strip of Fig. 10 having their toe portions pointing to the left will be right insoles, and all those having their toe portions pointing to the right will be left insoles.

. The insoles according to Figs. 3 and 4 when cut from the strip shown in Fig. 6 along the contours 33 of that figure will all be left insoles. However, by placing two such strips back to back, as diagrammatically shown in Fig, 11,- all the insoles cut along the contours 33 from the upper strip will be left insoles, and all those out from the lower strip will be right insoles, and a die for a single insole may be employed.

It is obvious from an inspection of Figs. 6 and 11 that, although a die for a single insole may be employed for cutting right and left insoles by placing two strips back to back, which is permitted on account of the relatively stiff material being relatively thin, the ways of cutting the strips indicated by Figs. 6 and 11 are extremely wasteful of material. Strips for cutting the insoles according to Figs. 3 and 4i are therefore preferably made as shown in Fig. 12 so that the insoles may be cut with a minimum waste of material by use of a die for a single insole. As illustrated by Fig. 12, the strip 31 at the upper side thereof comprises a longitudinally extending sheet or band 39 of itherelatively flexible material and at each of opposite edges thereof a sheet or band 4! of the relatively stiff material. At its lower side the strip 31 comprises longitudinally extending sheets or hands 43 of the relatively flexible-material, while between abutting edges of these sheets is positioned a longitudinally extending sheet or band i-5 -of the relatively stiff material. The width of the sheet 45 is such as to make the strip have a longitudinally extending relatively stiff zone of width at least the combined lengths of the shank and heel portions of the insole, while adjacent edges of the sheets 45 and 4| are so spaced as to provide a longitudinally extending flexible zone at each side of the relatively stiff zone just mentioned of width the length of the ball portion of the insole, the sheets 41 each providing a longitudinally extending zone of width at least the length of the toe portion of the insole,

The insoles may be cut from the strip according to Fig. 12 along the contours 41 by use of a die for a single insole in the manner explained in connection with Figs. 9 and 10. For instance, the die may be positioned so as to cut the insole at the lower left hand corner of the strip in Fig. 12. The die may then be turned through and shifted to the right to cut the insole the shank and heel portions of which are immediately above the first mentioned insole, and the operation may then be repeated to cut the remaining insoles, -Two strips according to Fig. 12 may be placed back to back as diagrammatically in dicated in that figure, in which case all the insoles cut from the upper strip will be left insoles, and all those out from the lower strip will be right insoles.

A further modified form of insole is shown by Figs. 13 and 14. These insoles are similar to that shown by Figs. 1 and 2 except that the heel portion 49 is formed of a single thickness of relatively stiff material such as fiberboard. This material, as shown, is united by an overlapping skived cemented joint to the remaining portion of the insole, which latter comprises at the upper side thereof a sheet or band 53 of the relatively flexible material coextensive with the ball and shank portions and a sheet or band 55 of the relatively stiff material coextensive with the toe portion, the sheets 53 and 55 either abutting each other, as indicated in Fig. 14, or being joined by overlapping skived cemented joints in the manner indicated in Fig. 8. This remaining portion of the insole further comprises a single sheet or band 5! of the relatively flexible material coextensive with the shank, ball and toe portions of the insole.

The insole shown by Figs. 3 and 4 may also be modified in accordance with Figs. 13 and 14, such a modified insole being illustrated by Figs. 15 and 16. This modified insole comprises a shank and heel portion formed of a single sheet 59 of the relatively stiff material united by an overlapping skived cemented joint iii to the remaining portion of the insole. At its upper side the insole comprises a sheet 63 of the relatively flexible material coextensive with the ball portion and a sheet 65 of the relatively stiff material coextensive with the toe portion, there being a sheet 67 of the relatively flexible material at the under side of the insole coextensive with the shank and toe portions.

The insoles according to Figs. 13 and 14 may be out along the contours 69 from the strip H illustrated by Fig. 1'7, this strip having a crosssection similar to that shown by Fig. 14 except that the bands of relatively stiff material 49 and 55 of Fig. 17 are slightly wider than the heel and toe portions respectively to facilitate cutting of the insoles from the strip. When cutting the insoles the strips H may be placed back to back, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 17, provided the relatively stiff portions 49 are not too thick to prevent the dies cutting through them. When the strips are so placed and operated upon as indicated in Fig. 17 all the insoles cut from the upper strip will be left insoles, and all those out from the lower strip will be right insoles.

On account of the relatively large waste of material involved and the impossibility of cutting both right and left insoles from the same strip by use of a die for a single insole when cutting the insoles according to Figs. 13 and 14 from the strips according to Fig. 17 the somewhat similar insoles according to Figs. 1 and 2, which may be cut from the strips of Figs. 9 and 10 in the manner indicated by those figures, are preferably employed instead of the insoles according to Figs. 13 and 14.

The insoles according to Figs. 15 and 16 are preferably cut from the strips according to Fig. 18 with which it is possible to use a. die for a single insole and cut right and left insoles from the same strip. According to Fig. 18 the strip 12 comprises a longitudinally extending zone formed by a band 13 of the relatively stiffmaterial, which band has a width slightly greater than the length of the sheet 59 of Figs. 15 and 16. This band at opposite edges is united by the overlapping skived cemented joints 15 to bands 11, 19 and 8! of widths and materials corresponding to those of the sheets 63, 65 and 61, respectively, of Figs. 15 and 16, the bands 11 and 19 at one edge of the band 13 being at the opposite side of the strip from the bands 11 and T9 at the opposite edge of the band 13, as clearly indicated in Fig. 18, and the bands '19 and 8! being somewhat wider than the length of the sheets 55 and 61, respectively, so as to facilitate cutting of the insoles from the strip. The strip accorded to Fig. 18 may be placed in the press,

r as above explained, in which case the die may be positioned to cut successive insoles along the contours 83, the die being turned around 180 after it has out each insole to position it for cutting the next insole. It will be observed that, as shown in Fig. 18, all the insoles having their toe portions pointing to the left are left insoles, and all those having their toe portions pointing to the right are right insoles.

It is possible, but not preferable, to form the strips for cutting the insoles according to Figs. 15 and 16 in the manner shown by either of the strips of Fig. 19. The strips 85 are like the strips of Fig. 18 except that the relatively stiff bands '19 are both at the same side of the insole. With these strips to avoid waste of material the insoles may be cut in the way indicated by Fig. 18, but all the insoles cut from a given strip in such case would be either right or left insoles. By placing two strips 85 back to back, as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 19, which may be done if the strips are not too thick, all the insoles cut from one strip will be left insoles and all those out from the other Will be right insoles.

It will be understood that the insoles according to Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4, when the stiff material at the toe portion is uppermost in the shoe, present a continuous surface of the flexible material at the heel, shank and ball portions of the upper side of the insole. However, by reversing or turning over the insoles, so that what has hereinbefore been referred to as a right insole becomes a left insole, and vice versa, the toe and ball portions, or toe, shank and ball portions, will present a continuous surface of the flexible material at the upper side of the insole in the shoe, which may be desired and is permissible in a sewed shoe or one in which the uppers are not secured to the forward part of the insole by wet latex or the like. In fact, any of the various forms of insole hereinbefore described, it will be observed, may be reversed in this manner to make it either a right or left insole as desired; and although ordinarily it is preferable to have the stiff material of the insole positioned in the same Way in the left and right shoes of a pair of shoes as, for example, the

stiff material in both insoles of a pair of sewed shoes at either the top or bottom of the insole, it need not, if desired, be so positioned, in which case alternate insoles of a group of what hereinbefore has been referred to as right insoles, or referred to as left insoles, may be reversed to use them as left insoles, or right insoles, respectively, the insoles in the right shoes in such case having of course the stiff material positioned differently than in the left shoes. Therefore, it will be understood that the insoles, when the flexible material thereof is rubberized, although presenting a structure which permits them to be used; in situations where uppers are to be cementedto the forward part of the insole by" use of; wet latex; arenotlimitedtosuchuse, but being adapted-foruse in sewed shoes, and interchangeably as right and left insoles, are of universalapplication. It also will be understood that, although rubberized material of the type described preferably for many reasons is em ployed for the flexible material of theinsoles independently of the uses of the insoles, the flexible .material need not be rubb"erized when the insoles are used in sewed shoes or in other situations where rubberized material is unnecessary or undesirable.

It will be'also understood that within thescope ofthe appended claims wide deviations may be made from the forms of the invention herein described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: I V a 1. An insole having at its rearward end portion. a sheet of relatively stiff material forming exposed; surfaceof the insole at at leastone side thereof, an exposed sheet of relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous material, capaisle" of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex, at a side ofwthe insole at which said sheet of relatively stiff material isexposed extending from the forward end portion of the lastwnentioned sheettothe forward end of the insole, an exposed sheet of relatively stiff material at the forward end of the insolecemented to the side of said sheet of relatively flexible rubber impregnated material opposite the exposed side thereof, a second exposed sheet of relatively flexible" material cemented to the same sideof said sheet of rubber impregnated material as'said last mentioned sheet of relatively stiff material and extending rearwardly from the rearward end portion of the latter over at least the ball portion of the insole, the portions of said insole between the adjacent edges of said sheets of relatively stiff material, including at least substantially the entire ball portion, b'eingformed of said two sheets of relativelyflem ible 1' material.

2. Ashoe having an insole comprising relat'ivelystiff sheet material at opposite end portions thereof, which material extends for the width of the insole lengthwise thereof at at least a material part of the toe and heel portions without. including any material part of theball 'portiom'the stiff material at at least the forward end portion being of less thickness than the corresponding portion of the insole; the. remainder of the insole, in. respect to said relatively stiff sheet material, being formed of relatively flexible sheet material at least some of which is rubber impregnated fibrous material; said relatively stiff and flexible sheet material being secured to each other independently o'f theother shoe parts to form a unitary insole and being so disposed and arranged as to provide, at the under side thereof, an exposed surface of the relatively fiem'ble rubber impregnated sheet material extending for the width of the insole rearwardly from the tip of the" toe portion thereof to the adjacent edge of the relatively stiff sheet material at the op posite end portion of the insole, which exposed surface is substantially a continuation of a surface of the last mentioned relatively stiff sheet material, and uppers cemented at their marginal portions to said exposed surface of said rubber impregnated sheet material at at least the toe and ballportionsof the insole.

3. A shoe according to claim 2 in which the Q rearward end portion of the insole for its entire thickness is formed of said relatively stiff sheet material. e e g 4. A'shoe according to claim 2 in which the heel and shank portions of the insole for their entire thickness are formedof said relatively stiff sheet material.

5. An insole according to claim 1 in which the relatively stiff sheet material at the end portion of the insole opposite the toe portion thereof is of the thickness of that end portion.

6. An insole according to claim 1 in which the relatively stiff sheet material at the heel portion includes that portion andthe shank portion and is of the: thickness of the insole at those portions.

'7. An insole the opposite end portions of which comprise relatively stiff sheet material of such width lengthwise of the insole as to extend over at least a material part of the toe and heel portions thereof without extending over any material partiofthe ball portion, the relatively stiff sheet material which extends over the toe portion being at the opposite side of the insole from that which ,extendsover' theheel portion; the remainder otthe insole, in respect ;to said relatively stiif'sheet material, and including substantially the'entire ball portion and the surface portions at the sidesof the insole not-occupied by said relatively stiff sheet material, being formed of relatively flexible sheet material, the flexiblematerial which forms the'surface of one side of the q insole at at least the H toe and ball portions being-rubber impregnated fibrous material.

. 8. Ashoe having an insole according to claim 7,, in which:shoe that surface of the insole which isformedby the rubber impregnated materiaiat one side of the toe and ball portions is positioned at the under side of the insole, the'shoe having uppers the marginal portions of whichare cemented to said surface at at least the toe and ball portions.

9. An insole according to claim 7 in'w'hich the relatively stiff sheet material at the heel portion is confinedtothat portion.

1 0. A shoe having an insole according to claim 7, in which shoe that surface of the insole which is formed by the rubber impregnated material at one side of the toe and ball portions is positioned at the under side of the insole, the shoe having uppers the marginal portions of which are cemented to said surfaceat at least the toe and ball portions, the relatively stiff sheet material at the heel portion being confined'to that portion.

11. A shoe having an insole the ball portion at least of which is relatively flexible, the insole having, at the rearward end portion thereof, a sheet of relatively stiff material; a sheet of relatively flexible (rubber impregnated fibrous material having an exposed surface at the under side of the insole extending from the forward end portion of said sheet of relatively stiff material to the forward end of the insole; a second sheet of relatively stiff material, at the forward end portion of the insole, at the side of said sheet of flexible material opposite said exposed surface thereof; a sheet of relatively flexible material having an exposed surface at the opposite side of the insole from the exposed surface of the first mentioned sheet of relatively flexible material extending from the rearward end portion of said second sheet of relatively stiff material to the forward end portion of the first mentioned sheet of relatively stiff material; said sheets of relatively stiff material being confined substantially to portions of the insole at opposite sides of the ball portion thereof, and shoe uppers the marginal portions of which are cemented to said exposed surface of said rubber impregnated sheet at at least the toe and ball portions of the insole.

12. An insole having sheets of relatively stiff fiberboard and relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous material in secured, together laminated relation to form at the toe portion of the insole a fiberboard sheet, and, at the same side of the insole, a sheet of said flexible material approximately coextensive with the ball, shank and heel portions thereof, and, at the opposite side of the insole, a fiberboard sheet at the heel portion thereof and a sheet of said flexible material approximately coextensive with the shank, ball and toe portions thereof.

13. An insole having sheets of relatively stiff fiberboard and relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous material in secured together laminated relation to form at the toe portion of the insole a fiberboard sheet, and, at the same side of the insole, a sheet of said flexible material approximately coextensive with the ball, shank and heel portions thereof, and, at the opposite side of the insole, a fiberboard sheet at the heel and shank portions thereof, and a sheet of said flexible material approximately coextensive with the ball and toe portions thereof.

14. An insole having sheets of relatively stiif fiberboard and relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous material in secured together laminated relation to form at the toe and heel portions of the insole at opposite sides thereof, respectively, a sheet of said fiberboard in superimposed relation to a sheet of said flexible material, the remainder of the insole including at least substantially the entire ball portion being formed of superimposed sheets of said flexible material.

15. An insole having sheets of relatively stiif fiberboard and relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous material in secured together laminated relation to form, at the toe portion and at the shank and heel portions of the insole at opposite sides thereof, respectively, a sheet of said fiberboard is superimposed relation to a sheet of said flexible material, the ball portion of the insole being formed of superimposed sheets of said flexible material.

16. An insole formed of relatively flexible and relatively stiff material cemented together in laminated relation, said insole having at the toe portion thereof a sheet of relatively stiif material, and, beneath said sheet, a sheet of relatively flexible rubber impregnated material extending rearwardly from the forward end of the insole to include at least the toe and ball portions of the insole at one side thereof, said insole at the other side thereof having a sheet of flexible material which extends over at least the heel, shank and ball portions thereof, and, beneath the last mentioned sheet, a sheet of relatively stiif material extending from the rearward end of the insole forwardly to include the heel portion thereof but not more than the heel and shank portions so that at least the ball portion of the remainder of the insole in respect to the heel and toe portions thereof is formed wholly of flexible material.

17. An insole formed of relatively flexible and relatively stifl sheet material in permanently secured together relation, the opposite end portions of the insole at opposite sides thereof, respectively, comprising relatively stiff sheet, material of such width lengthwise of the insole as to extend over at least a material part of the toe and heel portions thereof, respectively, the remainder of each side of the insole in respect to the relatively stifl sheet material at that side being formed of relatively flexible sheet material, and the entire ball portion of the insole being formed of relatively flexible sheet material.

18. An insole comprising relatively stiif sheet material at one end thereof, relatively flexible sheet material in the same plane as the first mentioned sheet material and extending to the opposite end of the insole, relatively stiff sheet material at the last mentioned end of the insole at a side of said relatively flexible sheet material, and relatively flexible sheet material in the same plane as the last mentioned relatively stiff sheet material and extending to the first mentioned end of the insole, all said sheet material being in permanently secured together relation, and the widths of said relatively stiif sheet material lengthwise of the insole being such that it is confined to portions of the insole at opposite sides of the ball portion thereof.

19. An insole according to claim 18 in which the relatively stiff sheet material is of such width lengthwise of the insole and is so disposed that it is confined to portions of the insole at opposite sides of the ball and shank portions thereof.

20. A shoe having, in combination, an insole having, at the upper side thereof, a sheet of fiberboard at the toe portion and a sheet of flexible material at the ball portion, and, at the lower side thereof, a sheet of rubber impregnated flexible fibrous material at the toe and ball portions thereof secured to the first mentioned sheets with the latter in superimposed relation thereto; and uppers the marginal edge portions of which are cemented to the under side of the last mentioned sheet; the heel portion of said insole comprising a sheet of said fiberboard secured to the under side of one of said sheets of flexible material which are at the ball portion of said insole.

21. A shoe having, in combination, an insole formed of relatively stiff sheet material and relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous sheet material, secured together in laminated relation, the under side of said insole at the toe and ball portions thereof being formed of said relatively flexible sheet material, the toe portion of said insole having a sheet of said relatively stiif material at the upper side of the flexible material which is at the under side of the insole at said portion, both sides of the insole at the ball portion thereof being formed of said flexible sheet material, said insole at the heel portion thereof having a sheet of said relatively stiif material at the under side of the sheet which is at the upper side of the insole at the ball, shank and heel portions thereof, and uppers for said shoe cemented at the under side of the toe and ball portions thereof to said flexible material.

22. A shoe having, in combination, an insole having, at the upper side thereof, a sheet of fiberboard at the forward end portion and a sheet of flexible material extending from adjacent the rearward edge of said sheet of fiberboard to the rearward end of the insole, said insole having, at

the lower. side thereof, a sheet of fiberboard at the rearward end portion and a sheet of rubber impregnated fibrous flexible sheet material extending from adjacent the forward edge of said sheet of fiberboard to the forward end of the insole, said sheets at the lower side of the insole being permanently secured to those at the upper side in laminated relation; said sheets of fiberboard being spaced from each other longitudinally of the insole, and being confined to portions thereof at opposite sides of the ball portion whereby the portion of the insole between the sheets of fiberboard is relatively flexible; and uppers the marginal edge portions of which are cemented to the under side of said rubber impregnated sheet at least the toe and ball portions thereof.

23. A shoe according to claim 22 in which said sheets of fiberboard at the under and upper sides of the insole are approximately coextensive with and confined to the heel and toe portions, respecthe insole forwardlyfrom the forward edge pori tions of the relatively stiff material at the rearward end of the insole to'the forward'end ofthe insole and over the relatively stiff material at said forward end, and extending from edge to edge of the insole rearwardly from the rearward edge portions of the relatively stiff material at the forward end of the insole to the rearward end of the insole and over the relatively stiff material at said rearward end, said relatively stiff material at each end of the insole being secured to said relatively flexible sheet material, the relatively stiff material being confined to portions of the insole at opposite sides of the ball portion thereof, 26. An insole according to claim 25 in which the relatively stiff sheet material is confined to the toe and heel portions of the insole.

2'7. A strip from which are adapted to be cut transversely thereof a plurality of like insole of any desired width having relatively stiif portions at opposite ends spaced by a relatively flexible portion that includes the ball portion of the insole, the strip between opposite edges having a relatively flexible zone of width with the length of the flexible portion of the insole and, at each of opposite sides of said zone, a relatively stiff zone, the combined widths of said zones being at least the length of an insole, said relatively flexible zone of said strip comprising two exposed cemented-together superimposed relatively fiexible sheets which for the length and width of said zone are continuous and imperforate, one at least of said sheets being of rubber impregnated fibrous material capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex and being of such width and so disposed as to extend from an ,edge of one of said relatively stiff zones over the relatively flexible zone and the opposite relatively stiff zone, the latter having a band of relatively stiff sheet material of width at least the length of the toe portion of an insole cemented to said sheet of rubber impregnated fibrous material in edge to edge relation to the other of said relatively flexible sheets.

28. A strip from which are adapted to be cut transversely thereof a plurality of like insoles having relatively stiff portions at opposite ends spaced by a relatively flexible portion that includes at least the ball portion of the insole, which strip between oppositeedges has a relatively flexible zone of width the length of said relatively flexible portion of the insole and, at

each of opposite sides of said zone, a relatively stiff zone, the combined widths of the three zones being at least the length of an insole, each relatively stiff zone comprising a band of relatively stiff sheet material contiguous with said relatively flexible zone and of less thickness than the relatively stiff zone which comprises it; the surfaces of said strip at one side thereof at one of said bands, and at the opposite side thereof at the other of said bands, and at each side thereof at said relatively flexible zone, being formed of relatively flexible rubberized fibrous sheet material capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex.

29. A strip according to claim 2? in which a band of relatively stiff sheet material of the thickness of the insole forms the relatively stiff zone from the edge of which said relatively flexible sheet extends over the relatively flexible zone and opposite relatively stiff zone.

30. A strip from which are adapted to be cut transversely thereof a plurality of like insoles of any desired width having relatively stiff portions at opposite ends spaced by a relatively flexible portion that includes the ball portion of the insole, the strip between opposite edges having a relatively flexible zone of width the length of the flexible portion of the. insole and, at each of opposite sides of said zone, a relatively stiff zone, the combined widths of said zones being at least the length of an insole, said relatively flexible zone of said strip comprising two cementedtogether superimposed relatively flexible sheets of rubber impregnated fibrous material capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex, one of which sheets has a surface exposed at one side of the strip andthe other a surface exposed at the opposite side of the strip, one of said sheets extending over an adjacent relatively stiff zone and the other extending over the other relatively stiff zone; said relatively stiff zones each comprising a band of relatively stiff sheet material which is of the width of the zone and is cemented to the relatively flexible sheet which extends over the zone and is in edge to edge relation to the other relatively flexible sheet.

31. A strip from which are adapted to be cut transversely thereof a plurality of insoles of any desired width each having separate relatively stiff portions, one of which portions is the longer and is approximately coextensive with the heel and shank portions of the insole, and the other 1 of which portions is the shorter and is approxim'ately coextensive with the toe portion of the insole, each insole also having a relatively flexible portion which is approximately coextensive with the ball portion of the insole and connects said relatively stiif portions, which strip between its opposite edges has a relatively stiif zone of width at least the length of the longer relatively stiif portion of the insole, and, at each of opposite sides of said zone, a contiguous relatively flexiblezone of width the length of the flexible portion of the insole, and, at that side ofeach of the relatively flexible zones which is opposite said relatively stiif zone, a further relatively stilf zone contiguous with the relatively flexible zone and of width at least the length of said shorter relatively stiff portion of the insole; each of the last mentioned zones comprising a band of relatively stiff material, of less thickness than the zone but of the width of the zone, lying substantially within the space defined by the planes of the opposite surfaces of the adjacent flexible zone, the flexible zones being formed of superimposed sheets which for the lengths and widths of said zones are continuous and imperforate, the strip at. each of said bands and adjacent flexible zone having a surface portion formed of relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous sheet material capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex.

32. A strip according to claim 31 in which one side of said strip at one of said bands and adjacent flexible zone, and'the other side of said strip at the other of said bands and adjacent flexible zone, have surface portions formed of relatively flexible sheet material.

33. A strip according to claim 31 in which the bands are substantially in the same plane, a side of the strip at one of said bands, and the same side at the other of said bands and at each of said relatively flexible zones, having surface portions formed of relatively rubber impregnated fibrous sheet material capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex.

34. A strip according to claim 31 in which at least said further relatively stiff zones and relatively flexible zones are formed of superimposed sheet material, the sheet material which forms said further relatively stifi zones including said bands, the material which forms one surface portion at each of said further relatively stiff zones and contiguous relatively flexible zone being in the form of a single sheet of relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous material common to both of said zones and capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex.

35. A strip according to claim 31 in which said relatively stiff bands are in the same plane and a sheet of relatively flexible material extends from one to the other, the first mentioned relatively stiff zone of claim 31 comprising a furt er band of relatively stiff material of the width of said zone positioned on said sheet, and separate sheets of relatively flexible material on the first mentioned sheet of relatively flexible material extending in opposite directions from the opposito edges, respectively, of said further band over the adjacent relatively flexible zone and adjacent one of the first mentioned relatively stiff bands.

36. A strip according to claim 31 in which each of the relatively flexible zones is formed of superimposed sheets of relatively flexible material, one of which sheets is the narrower and is the width of such zone and coextensive therewith, and the other of which is the wider and is the combined widths of such relatively flexible zone and the adjacent further relatively stifl zone of claim 31, the bands of each of said further relatively stiff zones being the thickness of said narrower sheet and in the same plane therewith and on said wider sheet, the first mentioned relatively stiff zone of claim 31 comprising a sheet of relatively stifi material the width of said zone and coextensive therewith and of thickness the combined thicknesses of said superimposed sheets.

37. The method of forming a plurality of insoles, each having relatively stiff end portions joined by a relatively flexible portion, which latter includes at least the ball portion of the insole, and having surfaces of relatively flexible rubberized fibrous material at one side thereof at at least the toe and ball portions, which comprises assembling bands of relatively stiif sheet material and bands of relatively flexible rubberized fibrous sheet material capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex in such wise as to form an elongated strip presenting a pair of longitudinally extending layers of the relatively stiff material, respectively disposed at opposite faces of the strip in spaced relation to each other transversely of the strip a distance the length of the flexible portion of the insole, with one side of each layer of relatively stiff material covered by an exposed layer of relatively flexible material extending from the adjacent edge of the other layer of relatively stiff material; and cutting insoles one at a time from said strip transversely thereof from one side thereof by use of a die along contours the toe portions of which are included by said relatively stiff layers of said strip, the die causing such portions of left insoles, as viewed from that side of the strip, to be out from one of said relatively stiff layers and being reversed end for end relative to said strip to cut the same portions of right insoles, as viewed from the opposite side of the strip, from the other of said relatively stiff layers, whereby the relatively stiff and relatively flexible materials will be positioned alike in right and left insoles.

38. The method according to claim 37 in which the materials are assembled'to Space said layers of relatively stiff material transversely of the strip a distance which is approximately the com bined lengths of the ball and shank portions of the insole, each layer of relatively stiff material being wide enough to include either the toe or heel portions of the insoles.

39. The method of forming a plurality of insoles, each having relatively stiff heel and shank portions separated from a relatively stiff toe portion by a relatively flexible ball portion, which insoles have surfaces of relatively flexible rubberized fibrous material at one side thereof at the toe and ball portions, which comprises forming an elongated strip of relatively stiff sheet material and relatively flexible rubberized fibrous sheet material secured in assembled relation in such wise as to present a relatively stiff longitudinally extending zone of width at least the combined lengths of the heel and shank portions of the insole, and, at each of opposite sides respectively of the strip, a longitudinally extending layer of the relatively stiif material of less thickness than the strip and of such width as to include the relatively stiff toe portion of the insole and spaced from the adjacent edge of said relatively stiff zone the length of the ball portion of the insole, the remainder of the width and thickness of the strip in respect to said layers and Zone being formed of layers of said relatively flexible rubberized fibrous material, which latter is capable of being rendered adhesive by application of wet latex; and cutting insoles from said strip transversely thereof from one side thereof by use of a die along contours the heel and shank portions of all of which are included by said relatively stiff zone, the die causing the toe portions of left insoles, as viewed from that side of the strip, to be cut from one of said relatively stiff layers and being reversed end for end relative to said strip to cut the toe portions of right insoles, as viewed from the opposite side of the strip, from the other of said relatively stiff layers, whereby the relatively stiff and relatively flexible materials will be positioned alike in right and left insoles.

10. The method according to claim 39 in which the relatively stiff zone is formed of relatively stiff material of the thickness of the strip and the layers of relatively stiff material of less thickness than the strip are at opposite sides thereof respectively.

41. A laminated insole comprising a first layer of material having at least on relatively narrow end portion, and a reinforcing material cemented onto said one end over substantially the entire area of one side of said reinforcing material, said reinforced end constituting the heel portion of said insole, a second layer of similar arrangement of narrow end portion and reinforcing material cemented thereto, the reinforced end of said second layer constituting the toe portion of said insole, said first and second layers being fastened together such that the outer sides of said reinforcing material of both layers are substantially open and face opposite directions, said reinforced heel and toe portions of said laminated insole being stiffer than the other portions thereof.

42. A laminated insole comprising a first layer of material having cemented to one end thereof a reinforcing strip, said strip being cemented onto said material over substantially the entire area of one side of said strip, and a second layer of similar arrangement of material and reinforcing strip, said material of said second layer being cemented to said material of said first layer, the reinforced portions of said laminated insole being stiffer than the other portions thereof. 5 43. A shoe having, in combination, a unitary insole which is relatively stiff at at least the toe portion and relatively flexible at at least the ball portion, the upper surface of said insole rear- :wardly of the toe portion thereof being substan- 10 -tially continuous with the upper surface at said "the portion, said unitary insole also having a sheet of relatively flexible rubber impregnated brous material at its under side extending over t least the toe and ball portions of the insole and secured to the insole portions above it, and ,ZYVIIIDDGIS cemented to said rubberized sheet at at least the toe portion of the insole.

44. A shoe having, in combination, a unitary insole which is relatively stiff at at least the toe 20 portion and relatively flexible at at least the ball portion, the upper surface of said insole reariivardly of the toe portion thereof being substantially continuous with the upper surface at said the portion, said unitary insole also having a sheet relatively flexible rubber impregnated fibrous "material at its under side extending over at least "the toe and ball portions of the insole and se- "ured to the insole portions above it, and uppers "cemented to said rubberized sheet at at least 30 the toe and ball portions of the insole.

ARTHUR C. SEWALL.

. CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent Nb. 2,252,L17. August 12', 19m.

ARTHUR C SEWALL It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificatien b1" the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 7, first column, line 16, claim 22, iforthe words "sheet at least read "sheet at at least-- line claim 27, strike out "with" after "width"; page 8,

first column, line 50, claim 55, after "relatively." insert flexible--; I

and that the said Letters Patent should be reed with thiscorrect'ibn there- 1n-that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office'.

Signed and sealed this'21st day of October, A. D. 19m.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) 7 A cting Commissioner of Patents. 

